Nine Banned From Downtown Ashland

Nine people have been affected by a three-strikes-and-you're-out policy that prohibits repeat troublemakers from venturing into downtown Ashland.
The City Council created the exclusion zone in August 2012. People who commit three offenses within a six-month period can be banned from the downtown for three months.
The Ashland Daily Tidings made a public records request to obtain the names of people who have been banned. Seven of the individuals concerned have reportedly left the area.
Together, the nine have amassed citations for offenses such as theft, urinating in public, trespassing, disorderly conduct, having an open container of alcohol in public, drinking alcohol in public, furnishing alcohol to a minor and failing to appear in court.
Opponents of the exclusion zone say it targets homeless people and doesn't address underlying problems such as mental illness and addiction.